UPDATE JULY 8, 2026: Two roly-poly grizzly bear cubs continue settling in! – Two roly-poly grizzly bear cubs recently arrived at CMZoo recently and are settling in behind the scenes under the care of our animal care and veterinary teams. They’re eating, drinking, playing, and adjusting well to their new surroundings.
For the next few weeks, the cubs will remain in quarantine in our conservation center, out of guest view, while they continue to receive routine veterinary care, including exams, vaccinations, and any needed medications. Once their quarantine period is complete, they will move to Rocky Mountain Wild. It will likely be several weeks before guests may have the chance to see them there.
For now, the cubs have not been named and their sexes have not yet been identified — stay tuned for updates!
UPDATE JUNE 30, 2026: Just two cubs and their favorite activity: wrestling! – Recently, two grizzly cubs arrived at CMZoo and have been acclimating behind the scenes under the care of their animal care and veterinary teams. They’re eating, drinking, playing, and settling in well.
The cubs will remain in quarantine in the conservation center, out of guest view, as they continue to adjust and receive routine veterinary care, including exams, vaccinations, and any needed medications. It will likely be several weeks before they may be visible in Rocky Mountain Wild.
For now, the cubs have not been named and their sexes have not yet been identified — stay tuned for updates!
UPDATE JUNE 29, 2026: Our two little newcomers have big energy! – Earlier this month, two orphaned six-month-old grizzly bear cubs arrived at CMZoo after a 10-hour drive from Montana. These are the youngest grizzly cubs the Zoo has cared for in decades, and the first orphaned grizzlies to arrive in more than 20 years.
The cubs have been acclimating to life in human care behind the scenes, with their care team monitoring their behaviors and health. Since arriving, the cubs are growing quickly, eating, drinking, playing, and settling in well.
The cubs will not share space with Emmett and Digger, but they will meet them through fences when they show their team the time is right. That’s many milestones away, though. The cubs’ care team is currently working to establish trusting relationships with the rambunctious youngsters, who have been investigating surveillance cameras hung on the outside of their fencing and approaching their keepers at the fences when they come to train.
The cubs will continue to acclimate to life in human care in the Zoo’s conservation center, out of guest view. The quarantine period helps the cubs adjust, and allows the Zoo’s veterinary staff to provide examinations under anesthesia, vaccinations, and necessary medications, which helps protect other Zoo animals. It’s unlikely members and guests will be able to see them in Rocky Mountain Wild for many weeks. There are no plans to name the cubs yet, and their sexes have not been identified. Stay tuned on social media for more grizzly cub updates!
JUNE 25, 2026: Earlier this month, two orphaned six-month-old grizzly bear cubs arrived at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo after a 10-hour drive from Montana. These are the youngest grizzly cubs the Zoo has cared for in decades, and the first orphaned grizzlies to arrive in more than 20 years.
Upon arrival on Sun., June 7, they weighed about 30 pounds each, with light brown fur, the cub-signature white fur rings around their necks, and some of the fluffiest ears on record. The cubs have been acclimating to life in human care behind the scenes, with their care team monitoring their behaviors and health. Since arriving, the cubs are growing quickly, eating, drinking, playing, and settling in well.
“For us, it’s bittersweet, because although we have high hopes that we can give these young cubs a great life here, we ultimately want wildlife to be wild,” Rebecca Zwicker, animal care manager in Rocky Mountain Wild, says. “The folks who work at these wildlife agencies are heroes in my opinion. They want the same thing – for wildlife to live safely in the wild.”
CMZoo’s 21-year-old grizzlies, Emmett and Digger, had to be removed from the wild after many ‘strikes’ and human-wildlife conflicts, then came to CM Zoo as yearlings. Since then, they have helped CMZoo members and guests learn how to be bear-aware in wild places. These two cubbies will have the same job. Emmett and Digger have thrived in CMZoo’s care, and the Zoo is optimistic about the future of these little ones, too. Still, young animals from the wild can be fragile, so the Zoo is taking every step possible to help them succeed in human care.
CMZoo’s Rocky Mountain Wild area is known for providing homes for wild animals who cannot survive in the wild, and this sibling duo is getting a second chance at life.
“We work closely with wildlife agencies to provide homes for animals, like Emmett and Digger. Atka, our orphaned moose; Adira and Koda, our orphaned mountain lions; and Ouray, our bald eagle who was injured in the wild and could no longer fly, also came to us for a second chance,” Rebecca says. “We renovated our grizzly bear habitat in summer 2024 to safely house two sets of bears separately and coordinated with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and the US Fish and Wildlife Service for transfer of the cubs.
The cubs will not share space with Emmett and Digger, but they will meet them through fences when they show their team the time is right. That’s many milestones away, though. The cubs’ care team is currently working to establish trusting relationships with the rambunctious youngsters, who have been investigating surveillance cameras hung on the outside of their fencing and approaching their keepers at the fences when they come to train.
“Our first step in caring for them is giving them lots to do,” Rebecca says. “They are very busy bears, so they’re curious about their surroundings and the environmental enrichment we provide. Unlike wild bears, these two need to be comfortable around us. They’re learning to take food from us, which is an important foundational relationship builder. Once they know when we show up, good things will follow, we can work on cooperative behaviors that allow us to take care of them from the other side of a fence.”
Young grizzly cubs have white fur markings around their necks, known as ‘collars.’ One cub’s collar goes around the back of their neck, whereas their sibling’s collar ends around their shoulders. Keepers have been using that identifier in the early days of getting to know them and tracking their progress as individuals.
“One cub seems to be a little bolder than the other and is usually the first one to approach staff or shift into the other den when we ask them to move so we can clean or replenish enrichment,” Rebecca says. “We see them engaging with each other and playing, climbing, cuddling, and exploring together.”
The cubs are precious additions to the CMZoo family, but their backstory is a somber reminder of the realities wildlife face when humans get too close to wild animals. The cubs’ mother, an adult female grizzly, was euthanized due to a long history of conflicts with humans and attractants. The most recent incident was a confirmed livestock depredation in Montana.
“It’s exciting to see animals in the wild, but when we interact with wildlife in the wild, we unfortunately put them at risk,” Rebecca says. “I believe people have good intentions and think they’re helping wildlife by feeding them or following them to get a great photo. But, it’s our responsibility to make sure wild animals don’t get used to humans. When they get comfortable around people and sense an easy meal, wildlife agencies have no choice but to protect the humans involved. If wildlife can sense your presence, you’re too close. I hope these cubs bring our community a lot of joy, and serve as a reminder that the best thing we can do for wildlife is to let them be wild, heed the advice of organizations that work to protect them in the wild, and watch from a safe distance.”
The cubs will continue to acclimate to life in human care in the Zoo’s conservation center, out of guest view. The quarantine period helps the cubs adjust, and allows the Zoo’s veterinary staff to provide examinations under anesthesia, vaccinations, and necessary medications, which helps protect other Zoo animals. It’s unlikely members and guests will be able to see them in Rocky Mountain Wild for many weeks. There are no plans to name the cubs yet, and their sexes have not been identified. Follow CMZoo’s social media channels for more grizzly cub updates.
About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society was founded in 1926. Today, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, America’s mountain Zoo, offers comprehensive education programs, exciting conservation efforts and truly fantastic animal experiences. In 2025, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo was voted #2 Best Zoo in North America and CMZoo’s Rocky Mountain Wild was named #2 Best Zoo Exhibit in North America by USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. It is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s goal to help guests fall in love with animals and nature, and take action to protect them. Since 2008, CMZoo’s Quarters for Conservation program has raised nearly $6 million dedicated to frontline conservation efforts around the world. Of the 237 zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of just a few operating without tax support. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo depends on admissions, membership dues, special event attendance and donations for funding.